God’s Love Through the Past

Can you hear what the past tells you about how great God’s love is?

We’ve just enjoyed a wonderful holiday to Tasmania, an island state south of mainland Australia. When the Europeans settled our land, they used the island as a convict prison.

These people were sent there on tall ships to harsh and dangerous lives, far away from family and friends at Port Arthur. Yet, some found hope in their circumstances.

As we listened to the stories of the survivors about the terrible conditions, we couldn’t help but admire their strength and determination. I loved the way God helped them to get through what were very difficult circumstances.

But, I hear you say, “Hang on! They were in jail, right? Weren’t they there as punishment for wrongdoing?”

Some of the saddest stories were about the convicts transported from England because they did something small, like pinching a loaf of bread to help feed a starving family.

Some, even after gaining their freedom, were sent back to prison because they spoke to a guard the wrong way. Many of the stories reminded me of Joseph and the injustices dished out to him at the hand of so many people over and over again, then how God’s love delivered him.

Even the structures testify to their skills and care while they were building. A generation believing Jesus would return soon, they had to spread His gospel further and faster than ever before. Nothing to make them believe that the work of their hands would still be standing over a hundred years later.

As we visited the ruins that are still standing after being devastated by bush fires and an earthquake, I could only admire the testimony they told. They shout of talented craftsmen, of the care taken, the creative imaginations put to good use, and lots of hard work. I could see God’s love there.

So, what is it that God wants us to hear from such testimonies? I believe He wants us to know that no matter how difficult our circumstances, how unfairly we are being treated, He will not only help us through it, but He can preserve the work of our hands that will tell others of His love for generations to come.

“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” Proverbs 20:7

Born in Mount Isa, Queensland, in northern Australia, the eldest of five children of Salvation Army Officers, Helen Brown lived an almost nomadic life until she was fifteen years of age. However, she discovered books as a preteen and read a lot, well into the night and occasionally all night.
Two stories that captured her imagination were: “Anne of Green Gables” and “Little Women”. Just like the heroines in these stories, she wanted to write. A learning disability, which was not corrected until she was in her thirties, meant that schooling was a real struggle. It also meant that her dream seemed to be a distant mirage.
The struggle of raising five children and being a wife to a shearer/farmer in a small town, taught her a lot about life and the grace of God. During this time, she also completed her teaching degree and worked many casual jobs, in order to ensure that the farm was viable.
Today, she continues to write, with several books to her name now, while still living at the farm on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia.

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4 Comments

Joyce Graves
on February 28, 2017 at 5:12 am

Helen, thank you so much for sharing your recent holiday in Tasmania with us this morning.

I learned so many new things and feel as if I have been there myself through the picture of your words. History does give us a focus on the past and is interesting because it does repeat itself in so many ways.

We are so blessed to have you as a member of our blog team ministry as we send our testimonies and messages of faith, hope, and love into the world for the glory of God. j

I have heard stories as I well and each one breaks your heart. They are very similar to those stories of life on the slave ships to the U.S.
Sometimes, you want to hate history because we can jonly see the cruelty of man kind. It is when you hear stories of God’s love during those heart wrenching moments that restores hope. It’s like He tells them, “You are not alone.”

This is the third or fourth time in the past few weeks I’ve heard about the island of Tasmania, Helen. And what better reminder of Christ mercy and grace to us, though most rarely take the quiet time to ponder His love behind that mercy and grace.

Australia has always been a continent of great intrigue to me. I’m so thrilled to connect with you as Heart”wings” sisters. Thank you for your posts and the pictures. <3

Helen, this is so wonderfully written. I can imagine the hardship and injustice that the prisoners experienced through your words. I have heard of the island of Tasmania being a prison but have never thought anything significant about until now. There is so much history and legacy involved. I loved how the Holy Spirit enabled you to see God’s mercy and grace through its architecture. Thank you for sharing.